Nasofacial Morphometry of Ekpeye Tribe in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Nasofacial Anthropometry is concerned with the measurements of the proportions, size and shape of the human nose and face [1]. This study was aimed at investigating the nasofacial dimensions in Ekpeye tribe in Rivers state.

Methods: Nasofacial parameters of 362 adults were measured using vernier calliper. The nasal length was measured as the distance between the nasion and the nasopinale; nasal width was measured as the distance between ala to ala. The morphological facial length was measured as the distance from the nasion to gnathion and morphological facial width was measured as the distance between right and left zygomatic arches.

Results: Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 and Microsoft Excel 2013. The mean nasal index for the males was 95.03±17.31 while females presented with 91.04±10.39, this is statistically significant. The mean facial index for the males was 101.72±59.52 while females presented with 93.18±12.65.

Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that the Ekpeye people have platyrrhine type of nose and Hyperleptoprosopic category of face. Hence the data in this study has provided anthropometric data for the Ekpeye people, which will be beneficial in forensic science and nasofacial reconstructive surgeries.